Posted By Idowa on 27 Dec 2011 10:44 PM
I currently work for a large insurance company working auto claims. I've done this for 4.5 years and am licensed in all 50 states.
I worked our Internal CAT Unit for 87 days straight this summer. 12 hours a day and 7 days a week. I loved it! Our company decided to create a permanent ICU and I was ready to apply until they decided to open it half way across the country instead of in my office.
Someone suggested I should look into becoming an Independent Auto Adjuster since I have my licenses, love traveling and working long hours and meeting people.
I've been searching the posts here and have had a few of my questions answered, but it seems most of the content here has to do with property claims adjusting, which I'm not too interested in. I used to be a carpenter years ago and am familiar with construction, but would not be comfortable doing property claims.
So, my specific auto adjusting questions are as follows:
1. Do I still just put in applications w/ companies like SCA, PARS, etc?
2. Equipment needed to get started? Laptop, GPS, estimating software, vehicle work station, and about $5k to pay for expenses while waiting for the paychecks to come in; what else?
3. Seems that the CAT season starts around March for hail and tornadic activity; should I start applying now or wait until closer to the season? I don't want to quit my current job until I know I will start working a CAT within a couple of weeks or so.
4. How hire-able am I? My current position means I take the initial call, advise of coverage, assign method of inspection (one of our shops, one of our field appraisers, or an independent appraiser), review the estimates, pay the estimates, review supplemental requests, pay on the supplements. I'm also taking I-CAR classes when available through work...
My current job pays $43k a year. Thanks to all of the hours working CAT, I banked close to $70k.
However, I spend 3 hours a day driving to work, plus work 10 hour days. I used to love my job, but I'm burned out on the commute and heavy workload. Our company has added 300% to our workload, while cutting personnel by nearly 50%.
My ideal job description would be to get dispatched to a storm in the Midwest and then drive out there, find a cheap hotel, get assigned 50 claims to get looked at in a week. Work those, then get another 50 for the next week... Do that for 3-6 weeks then go home and relax for a month, then get called up for another storm...
5. I know the adjusting companies charge us about $125 for each auto claim; do they then pay the adjuster(me) for each claim worked, or is it a daily rate?
6. Can I ask to work in the field vs. a drive-in location?
7. Which adjusting companies are the best to work for? I currently work with PARS, Iowa Damage Appraisers, and SCA, who had a lot of problems the first few months taking care of our claims; seems like they hired anybody with a pulse often with disastrous results.
I know I should try to be a field appraiser for my company, and they have asked me if I'm interested, but once they train you, then THEY decide where to send you in the country for your permanent location.
I own my home, and have had relatives move here to be closer to us and our kids; moving is not an option...
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My initial thought was the same as others in that there are only around 32 states that do license adjusters........ But one should remember that just because a state has reciprocity with another does NOT automatically mean you are licensed to go to work in said state.
In any case onward and upward,
it does appear you have done some homework and that is appreciated and it behooves others to be more inclined to answer your questions.
1. Do I still just put in applications w/ companies like SCA, PARS, etc?
Yes, you will put in applications along with resume and cover letter to every vendor that you wish to work for. Now for clarity, PaRR inspections, Shaw Group are NOT insurance companies or Independent Adjusting firms. They are moreso along the lines of contracting through FEMA and are like "assessors"
2. Equipment needed to get started? Laptop, GPS, estimating software, vehicle work station, and about $5k to pay for expenses while waiting for the paychecks to come in; what else?
You pretty much have the right idea here although for safety up the 5k to about 7k
3. Seems that the CAT season starts around March for hail and tornadic activity; should I start applying now or wait until closer to the season? I don't want to quit my current job until I know I will start working a CAT within a couple of weeks or so.
One should apply NOW. Here is the one problem you WILL encounter and is the nature of the beast into what our lifestyle IS being CAT adjusters whether property or Auto:
In our world, you will receive a standby notice from one or maybe multiple vendors when a storm is predicted to hit a certain area (IE..hurricane X), should said hurricane infact make landfall you will get a go order (deploy and be on scene within usually 72 to 96 hours) Even in the best case scenario, you could go from nothing whatsoever on Monday,get a standby call on Tuesday and a deployment order on Thursday and then be mandated to be onsite for storm orientation by the following Monday. Now this scenario is geared towards a hurricane.
Lets talk about tornadoes , floods, windstorms where said event happens out of the blue on a Monday, you get a deployment order on a Tuesday and are mandated to be onsite for storm(event) orientation on Friday.
The nature of CAT work and being an independent adjuster means things can and will happen and change on a dime. Also , lets say you get that deployment order on Monday and are mandated to be onsite for Friday and you decide to take it and you quit your job on Tuesday, so on Thursday after you have driven 1500+ miles with still another 500 miles to go, you get a standdown order or you are told you were deployed by mistake and told to turn around and all they will tell you is SORRY BOUT THAT (believe me it can and does happen) Now you are screwed because you quit your job and now you have......nothing!!! This is what it means to be in our world
How hire-able am I? My current position means I take the initial call, advise of coverage, assign method of inspection (one of our shops, one of our field appraisers, or an independent appraiser), review the estimates, pay the estimates, review supplemental requests, pay on the supplements. I'm also taking I-CAR classes when available through work...
My current job pays $43k a year. Thanks to all of the hours working CAT, I banked close to $70k.
You are in fact extremely hireable and would in all likelihood be picked up quickly
However, I spend 3 hours a day driving to work, plus work 10 hour days. I used to love my job, but I'm burned out on the commute and heavy workload. Our company has added 300% to our workload, while cutting personnel by nearly 50%.
My ideal job description would be to get dispatched to a storm in the Midwest and then drive out there, find a cheap hotel, get assigned 50 claims to get looked at in a week. Work those, then get another 50 for the next week... Do that for 3-6 weeks then go home and relax for a month, then get called up for another storm...
You can kiss your ideal job description GOODBYE. You say and it's a completely understandable statement that driving 3 hours a day and spending 10 hour workdays makes one burned out. Adding 300+ % to your workload and cutting staff by 50% indeed is NOT a good thing.
What you have just described above is a fair description of being an independent adjuster (provided you were ONLY working part time) If you were to double all the above you would then understand the world of the independent adjuster during a CAT, ANY CAT !!!
5. I know the adjusting companies charge us about $125 for each auto claim; do they then pay the adjuster(me) for each claim worked, or is it a daily rate?
Whilst I am NOT positive I believe auto is paid on a daily rate
6. Can I ask to work in the field vs. a drive-in location?
You can ask, but they will put you where they need you, period!
7. Which adjusting companies are the best to work for? I currently work with PARS, Iowa Damage Appraisers, and SCA, who had a lot of problems the first few months taking care of our claims; seems like they hired anybody with a pulse often with disastrous results.
That is a tough question because all that really matters is that they pay you when they say they will and that they pay you what they said they would pay you. I couldn't tell you with ANY certainty who is the best to work for as it relates to auto claims. What I can tell you is that the above firms you speak of are NOT independent adjusting firms
I am aware that what I have told you is NOT what you probably wanted to hear but is what I believe to be the facts, other hands may disagree with my views.